In the midst of your blooming career, have you been a victim of an annoying rumor that
tarnishedyour reputation ? Have you experienced being accused of doing something you did not, just because some colleagues are envious of your success?
Chances are you or people close to you have been a subject of professional jealousy. So what did you do?
Professional jealousy is a terrible plaque. It affects the organization as well as the relationship among co-workers and concerned individuals.
In many a workplace, professional jealousy can be a seedbed of misunderstanding, division, hatred, rivalry and competition. These things eventually affect productivity and the overall health and condition of the organization.
The once easy-to-get-along associates become involving, miserable, obnoxious, impatient, unkind, hateful, suspicious and vengeful to those who are performing well and are probably earning their superior’s recognition and approval. Stripe becomes rife.
In any work place where professional jealousy takes the front seat, workers may feel demoralized. They feel pressurized to side with one person or the others. This situation usually leads to gradual decline in efficiency.
So, to the
accuse, it is advantageous to first check the facts. Find out who are actually said what? Most often, the version of the rumor that reaches you is the latest version that may already contain the nth addition.
It is also good to remember that your erring colleague is human. Empathize with him. Soon you will be less angry and more forgiving.
Do your work as you used to. Don’t let jealousy affect your wonderful career. If you lose your enthusiasm and become a lousy person, you will only prove your detractors right.
And finally, remember who you are you are God’s child, beloved and bear, for whom He gave His son. Who you are is not determined by what other people think. Value God’s opinion of you above everybody else’s.
To the jealous, you should not compare yourselves with others. This distorts your self-image because you often see yourself as an inferior. It’s not actual inferiority that does it. We think of ourselves as second best only.
Estimate yourself according to the ability God has given you. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.
Another thing to bear in mind is don’t let competition affect your work. We have been conditioned since birth to compete with one another. We compete with our siblings for our parent’s attention. We compete with friends with scholastic honors, athletic prowess and social status. We compete in business for positions and salaries.
So, as good Christian, let us rip the bird of professional jealousy right at the start in our workplace. Doing so will not only enhance our working relationship but our productivity as well.
By: MS. CRISTINA V. BUHAT | Teacher II | Samal South Elementary School, Samal, Bataan
